What is plaque in the arteries?
Arterial plaque forms along artery walls and is composed of various substances, such as fat, cholesterol and calcium. Plaque build-up can make arteries narrower and slow down blood flow or block it entirely; this condition is known as coronary artery disease (CAD).SymptomsYou may be suffering from arterial plaque or coronary artery disease if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or a heart attack.CausesCoronary artery disease can be caused by smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.Risk FactorsYou may be at risk for coronary artery disease if you are a man, smoker, have high blood pressure or cholesterol, obese, diabetic, have a sedentary lifestyle or a family history of CAD.TreatmentMedical treatments include cholesterol lowering drugs, aspirin, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.
